AN UNDERCOVER reporter who worked for the BBC and Channel 4 was found guilty yesterday of the murder of a man tortured to death in front of his children.

James Raven, 44, subjected drug dealer Brian Waters to "systematic and barbaric torture" at a farm in Tabley, Cheshire, last year.

Mr Waters, who lived with his family in Wrexham until 2000 and before that in Llanrwst, was hung upside down and sexually assaulted with an iron bar, causing fatal internal injuries.

He was also found to have 24 fractures of the ribs, had molten plastic poured over him, had an industrial staple gun used on him and was whipped with chains. His daughter Natalie, 21, and 25-year-old son Gavin were tied up and forced to watch their father's last agonising hours.

A jury at Chester Crown Court found Raven, of Bolton, guilty of murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Co-defendant John Wilson, 55, of Glossop, Derbyshire, was found guilty of the same charges. Ashley Guishard, 30, of Sale, Greater Manchester, was cleared of all charges.

The jury was sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict on Otis Matthews, 27, of Manchester, who has been charged with the same offences. Jurors will continue deliberating today.

Wilson had ordered the attack after falling out with Mr Waters over a debt.

Over two years Raven worked on programmes including the BBC's MacIntyre Uncovered and Crooked Britain, as well as Channel 4's Sleepers, infiltrating gangs involved in car crime and drugs.

BBC producers knew Raven had previous convictions for violence. They believed he was a reformed character.